Kimberly A. Wells, assistant Holyoke school superintendent, answers a question Monday during an interview with the School Committee for the superintendent's post.Michael Beswick / The Republican

HOLYOKE - Assistant School Superintendent Kimberly A. Wells has filled in during the current superintendent's absences and has helped install effective programs, she said Monday.

But Wells also acknowledged in a public interview for the superintendent job that she bears some responsibility for third-graders' poor reading proficiency.

Wells' interview before the School Committee in the cafeteria at Dean Technical High School showed that being the only one of the three finalists for superintendent with Holyoke system experience could be a strength and a weakness.

The School Committee plans to appoint a new superintendent from among Wells and two other finalists Wednesday.

Wells, 40, of Springfield, has been with the system for seven years and assistant superintendent since 2010.

She can relate to the struggles of people in this poor city, she said, growing up the daughter of a single mother who had three jobs.

"So I understand poverty, I understand adversity," Wells said.

Wells said her experience has included helping to keep a summer school busing problem from worsening last summer when Dupont was away.

She has worked to increase to hundreds a month the number of classroom "walk-throughs," or monitorings, that school officials do, she said. That should help in turning around Dean from its Level 4, or chronically underperforming, status, she said.

"I think that's one of the processes where you can point to see positive, actionable feedback," Wells said.

Committee member at large Michael J. Moriarty said that given the system has scored the lowest third-grade reading proficiency in the state, "I think I have to ask you how much responsibility do you have to take for that?"

Wells said the decision-making involved many people, but, "I absolutely accept responsibility but what I can tell you is the district has the infrastructure in place" for improvements.

For example, she helped stop the practice of having students with reading problems work with a speech articulation interaction staffer because such a specialist is ineffective for such students, she said.

One of her first acts as superintendent would be to audit programs and personnel to gauge effectiveness. She also would work to increase involvement of parents and community groups in the schools, she said.

Listening to parents' criticisms of the schools is important, she said.

"Because it's about gaining trust because you can't gain trust without giving it and putting yourself out there and making yourself vulnerable," Wells said.

She would strive to keep music and other arts programs funded, she said.

"Music and arts is one of those ways that keep kids coming to school and keeps kids invested," Wells said.

Superintendent finalist Sergio Paez, manager of supplemental support services for the Worcester public schools, will be interviewed by the School Committee Tuesday.